~*/  0  B 


University  of  California  •  Berkeley 


A  LEGEND 


WAEM   SPEINGS 


BY    H,    W. 


SACRAMENTO: 

KUSSELL  &  WINTEKBUKN,  BOOK  AND  JOB  PRINTEBS. 

1870. 


Bancroft  Library 


HIS     FRIENDS     AT     THE     SPRINOS 


IS     AFFECTIONATELY     INSCRIBED 


BY  THE  AUTHOR. 


A  LEGEND  OF  WARM  SPRINGS. 


In  California,  ere  the  priests 
Had  spread  their  evangelic  feasts 
Among  the  natives  of  her  shore, 
And  taught  them  Jesus  to  adore; 
When  no  one  dreamed  the  hills  did  hold 
Heaps  upon  heaps  of  purest  gold  ; 
When  savage  Might  was  uncontrolled 
By  pity  or  by  fear  of  law, 
And  crammed  at  will  its  brutal  maw  ; 
An  ancient  Castle  reared  its  head 
Above  the  mountains  'round  it  spread, 
And  could,  so  lofty  was  the  pile, 
Be  plainly  seen  for  many  a  mile. 
Nature  was  here  so  desolate, 
It  seemed  as  if  the  hand  of  Fate 
Had  marked  it  for  its  bitterest  hate : 
The  mountain  sides  were  stern  and  bare, 
And  <X)ld  and  gloomy  was  the  air ; 
No  joyous  flowers  could  be  seen, 
Nor  was  there  aught  of  verdured  sheen  ; 
The  trees  were  withered  as  from  blight, 


6  A    LEGEND    OF 

And,  flickering  in  the  moon's  pale  light, 

They  seemed  like  spectres  of  the  night, 

The  souls  of  murderers  to  affright. 

Even  the  birds  had  flown  away, 

No  more  to  gladden  all  the  day, 

While  evening  heard  the  wolf's  long  howl 

Mingled  with  screaming  of  the  owl, 

No  habitation  stood  anear, 

For  people  gazed  with  shuddering  fear 

Upon  the  Castle's  piercing  eye, 

That  shone  against  the  distant  sky, 

As  though  in  eager  search  of  prey. 

This  stronghold  stood  not  far  from  where 
The  Christian  priests  with  many  a  prayer 

Founded  the  Mission  San  Jose 

Some  centuries  or  more  thereafter. 

All  was  dismal :  merry  laughter 

Never  shook  its  gloomv  walls  ; 

O  e> 

But  blood  was  shed  in  many  brawls, 
And  curses  filled  its  vaulted  halls. 

How  many  years  had  passed  away 
Since  this  great  pile  had  seen  the  day, 

Or  by  whose  hands  its  stones  were  laid, 

None  knew  ;  but  vague  tradition  said 
The  Toltecs  here  had  held  their  sway, 

And  wrought  most  cunningly  in  stone,(1) 

In  shadowy  ages  past  and  gone ; 
And  proud  the  chieftain  was  to  ?ay, 
That  he  his  lineage  could  trace 

(1)  "The  noble  religious  and  other  edifices,  still  to  be  seen  in  various  parts  of  New 
Spain,  are  referred  to  this  people  whose  name,  '  Toltec,'  has  passed  into  a  synonyme  for 
'  architect.' ".— PKESCOTT'S  MEXICO. 


WARM    SPRINGS.  7 

To  that  mysterious,  ancient  race(2) 
Which  first  gave  civilizing  glow 
To  splendid  Aztec  Mexico. 

The  present  master  was  a  man 

As  fierce  as  one  would  dare  to  scan  : 

Upon  his  savage,  scowling  face 

E'en  Charity  would  fail  to  trace 

The  faintest  line  that  led  from  evil, 

Or  showed  him  other  than  a  devil. 

He  knew  no  pity,  no  remorse ; 

And  law  with  him  was  brutal  force. 

His  stature  was  a  giant's  height, 

And  every  muscle  spoke  of  might ; 

Not  one  of  all  his  numerous  horde 

Could  wield  with  ease  his  ponderous  sword — 

A  sword  that  never  felt  a  fear, 

Nor  paused  at  sight  of  mercy's  tear ; 

His  bosom  surged  with  angry  ire 

As  with  pent-up  volcanic  fire, 

That  nothing  human  could  assuage 

Until  it  spent  its  furious  rage. 

With  dreaded  arm  and  firm  command 

He  ruled  a  bold,  marauding  band, 

That  ranged  like  wolves  about  the  land, 

Staining  with  gore  the  virgin  soil. 
And  bearing  off  with  ruthless  hand 

The  fruits  of  hard  and  honest  toil, 
Uncaring  for  their  victim'?  pains, 
So  long  as  they  could  count  their  gains. 

(2)  Prescott  says  the  Toltecs  probably  advanced  from  a  northerly  direction,  but  from 
what  exact  direction  is  uncertain,  and  that  they  entered  the  territory  of  Anahuao 
probably  before  the  close  of  the  seventh  century. 


A    LEGEND    OF 

When  wasted  was  their  plundered  store, 

They  sallied  forth  in  search  of  more  ; 

The  wretched  people  fled  dismayed 

Before  the  havoc-making  raid, 

For  even  to  resist  by  word 

Was  but  to  feel  the  eager  sword ; 

And  how  could  they,  with  weapons,  hope 

Against  these  armored  men  to  cope  ? 

And  so  it  passed  from  year  to  year. 

And  all  the  land  was  filled  with  fear. 

But  'midst  this  pillaging  and  blood 
A  stainless  form  in  beauty  stood  — 
Like  one  lone  star  that  lights  the  sky 
When  clouds  are  piled  as  mountains  high 
The  robber  chieftain's  only  son. 
He  sometimes  had  his  father  won 
From  brutal  deeds  when  he  was  near, 
And  often  hid  the  sword  and  spear 
When  wassail  raged  and  words  ran  high, 
And  demons  danced  in  every  eye. 
Would  that  my  muse  had  power  to  trace 
His  perfect  loveliness  of  face  ; 
But  vain  the  task  to  draw  one  line 
Of  beauty  that  was  all  divine. 
So  full  of  sympathy  the  child, 
And  with  such  disposition  mild, 
He  was  to  all  as  much  endeared 
As  was  his  fiery  father  feared  ; 
And  sweet  his  voice  as  any  bird's, 
And  wisdom  sparkled  in  his  words. 


WARM    SPRINGS. 

His  very  mildness  was  his  strength, 
And  never  had  there  been  an  arm 
In  anger  raised  to  do  him  harm ; 
And  often  talked  the  men  at  length 
That  strange  it  was  for  one  so  young 
To  bear  such  wisdom  on  his  tongue, 
And  daily  live  in  scenes  of  blood, 
And  be  himself  so  pure  and  good. 
But  this  to  them  was  past  belief, 
That  he,  their  slaughterous,  cruel  chief, 
Should  be  the  parent  of  a  boy 
Who  even  a  fly  would  not  destroy; 
Who  never  spoke  in  angry  tone, 
Or  vexed  the  ear  with  murmuring  moan. 
They  little  knew  how  Heaven  lurks 
In  all  of  nature's  wondrous  works, 
And  tho'  unseen  by  dim-eyed  man, 
There  is  a  God-created  plan. 
The  child  grew  sick  from  day  to  day, 
To  hear  the  curse,  to  see  the  fray, 
And  often  longed  he  for  the  power 
To  level  to  the  ground  each  tower, 
And  bury  far  from  human  eye 
The  Castle  and  its  misery. 
But  more  than  this :  to  Heaven  he  prayed, 
That  when  his  guilty  parent  paid 
Great  nature's  debt,  he  should  have  aid 
To  make  atonement  for  the  sin 
In  which  his  ancestors  had  been. 

Some  half-score  gloomy  years  rolled  on, 
And  he,  the  robber  chieftain's  son, 


10  A    LEGEND    OF 

Beheld  his  wicked  father  die ;  ^ 

Then  called  he  all  his  people  nigh, 
And  told  them,  he  was  master  now 

Of  Castle,  lands,  and  all  their  store; 
And  that  they  knew  upon  his  brow 

There  was  no  drop  of  human  gore. 

As  Heaven  loved  him  he  loved  mankind, 
And  to  his  God  he  could  avow 

That  he  had  always  strived  to  bind 
Sweet  charity  around  his  heart ; 
"  But  still,"  he  said,  "  my  tears  will  start, 
"  When  I  recall  to  mind  the  part 
"  My  dreaded  ancestors  have  played, 
"  Making  of  others'  woe  a  trade, 
u  And  piling  up  ill-gotten  hoard, 
"  Won  by  the  cruel,  needless  sword. 
u  Why  should  we  dare  to  put  to  death 
"  A  thing  that  God  has  given  breath, 
"  Except  for  some  most  certain  good  ? 

"  This  horrid  castle  shrieks  with  groans, 

"  Its  vaults  are  filled  with  human  bones, 

"  And  all  its  towers  and  all  its  stones 
"  Are  saturate  with  victims'  blood  ; 
u  That  such  a  guilty  thing  has  stood 
"  Is  wondrous  strange ;  but  shall  it  stand 
"  Longer  to  terrify  the  land  ? 
"  You  have  well  loved  me ;  that  I  feel ; 
( '  My  fate  is  yours  in  woe  or  weal ; 
"  And  when  to  Heaven  I  daily  kneel, 
"I  pray  for  blessing  on  you  all. 
"  Now  heed  my  words :  this  pile  should  fall, 


WARM    SPRINGS.  11 

"  And  buried  be  where  never  man 

"  Can  see  one  stone  of  all  its  plan. 

"  As  wicked  as  your  lives  have  been, 

"  There  is  atonement  for  your  sin  ; 

u  The  Gods  are  merciful  to  those 

;i  Who  cease  to  be  their  willing  foes, 

"  Who  cast  their  guilt-encrusted  skin, 

"  And  let  the  rays  of  virtue  in. 

"  I  am  your  chief,  and  could  demand 

"  Obedience  to  my  command  ; 

"  But  let  that  pass ;  I  simply  ask 

"  That  you  would  undertake  the  task 

"  Which  Heaven  and  Earth  would  have  you  do." 

Bancroft  Library 

They  parleyed  not,  but  quickly  drew 

Before  the  castle's  ponderous  doors, 

And  set  to  work  with  thunderous  roars, 

That  filled  the  hills  with  echoing  sound, 

And  caught  the  ear  for  miles  around. 

With  kindling  voice,  and  eye  of  fire 

That  made  the  men  recall  his  sire, 

The  youthful  chieftain  led  the  way, 

As  had  his  father  to  the  fray. 

"  On,  on  !"  he  cried,  "  shall  shameless  Crime, 

"  Or  all  the  mischief  of  the  time, 

"  Be  overmatch  for  Heaven's  darts 

"  Impelled  from  sin-repenting  hearts  ? 

"You  have  done  much  for  Evil's  brood, 

"  See  what  you  now  can  do  for  Good ; 

"  Strike  hard,  nor  take  contented  breath, 

'k  Till  you  have  sealed  this  monster's  death  !" 


12  A    LEGEND    OP 

Thus  urged,  they  poured  a  living  tide 
Against  the  Castle's  rugged  side ; 
So  furious  was  the  contest  waged, 
It  seemed  as  if  a  battle  raged, 
Where  men  were  moved  by  impulse  high, 
To  conquer  there,  or  there  to  die. 
Some  climbed  upon  the  topmost  towers, 
And  there  essayed  their  maddened  powers 
To  wrench  the  deep-set  stones  from  where 
They  held  their  place  in  upper  air ; 
While  others  undermined,  and  strove 
The  huge  foundation  rocks  to  move  ; 
Others  again,  with  cunning  thought, 
Gigantic  battering  engines  wrought, 
And  with  persistent  patience  sought 
Some  weakened  spot,  on  which  to  press 
One  last  grand  effort  for  success. 
With  tireless  force  the  work  progressed 
From  week  to  week ;  when  one  took  rest, 
To  fill  his  place  another  sprang, 
While  all  the  air  with  tumult  rang 
From  shouting  throats  and  blow  on  blow 
That  thundered  on  the  granite  foe. 
But  all  in  vain  :  the  Castle  stood 
As  with  omnipotence  endued; 
Its  walls  as  firm  as  wThen  at  first 
The  multitude  against  them  burst ; 
Its  haughty  towers  still  proudly  rose 
Above  their  puny,  baffled  foes ; 
And  all  its  broad  foundation  base 
Still  held  what  seemed  eternal  place. 


WARM    SPRINGS.  13 

All  labor  ceased,  and  in  its  stead 

Despair  among  the  people  spread, 

For  many  were  who  boldly  said 

That  sacrifice  had  not  been  done 

Or  else  the  struggle  had  been  won ; 

While  others  spoke  in  under  tone, 

'Tvvas  sacrilege  to  touch  a  stone 

Of  that  old  Castle  where  for  years 

An  ancient  house  had  reared  its  heirs, 

And  where  the  holy  men  had  stood 

And  shed  the  sacrificial  blood. 

Others  were  louder  in  their  tone, 

And  clamored  for  the  altar-stone : 

"  We  all  do  know,"  they  fiercely  said, 

"  No  human  sacrifice  has  bled 

u  Since  yonder  boy  our  chief  has  been  ; 

"  The  Gods  are  angered  at  such  sin  ; 

"  And  should  it  prove  to  be  too  late 

"  Their  fury  to  propitiate, 

"  Prepare  for  pestilence  and  fire — 

"  Not  one  of  as  shall  'scape  their  ire. 

"  And  have  we  ventured  to  obey 

"  Yon  tender  stripling,  and  to  lay 

"Our  basely  sacrilegious  hand 

"  Upon  a  thing  the  Gods  have  planned  ? 

"  No  way  but  one : — prepare  the  feasts, 

"  And  quickly  bring  the  holy  priests ; 

"  Yon  stands  the  victim — he  alone 

"  Can  for  the  sacrilege  atone, 

"  For  he  it  was  that  led  us  on 

"  To  all  the  evil  we  have  done ; 


14  A    LEGEND    OF 

"  And  when  his  blood  ascends  to  Heaven, 
"  We  then  may  hope  to  be  forgiven." 

"  Hold  off  your  hands,"  he  mildly  said, 

"  Nor  seek  for  vengeance  on  my  head  ; 

"  Nor  think  I  would  a  moment  dread 

"  The  pangs  of  sacrificial  death  ; 

"  For  if  by  yielding  of  my  breath 

"  I  could  confer  a  lasting  good, 

"  You  should  have  all  my  body's  blood — 

"  I  come,  you  know,  of  lineage  high 

"  That  never  yet  has  feared  to  die. 

"  I  do  confess  the  altar-stone 

"  Has  heard  no  bleeding  wretch's  groan 

"  Since  I  have  filled  my  father's  seat, 

"  And  if  this  be  a  fault,  so  be't ; 

"  For  I  have  shrank  to  see  the  knife 

"  Encrimsoned  with  its  victim's  life  ; 

"  The  holy  man,  with  studied  art, 

"  Tear  out  the  palpitating  heart, 

"  And  hold  it  dripping  to  the  sun, 

"  When  all  the  horrid  rite  was  done; (1) 

"  And  I  have  thought  the  Gods  would  hear 

"  A  suppliant  voice  if  'twere  sincere, 

"  And  that  such  bloodshed  was  amiss 

"  If  man  were  better  than  he  is. 

"  And  so,  I've  strived  to  urge  you  on 

(1)  "They  led  him  (the  victim)  to  the  sacrificial  stone,  a  huge  block  of  jaspar,  with  its 
upper  surface  somewhat  convex.  On  this  the  prisoner  was  stretched,  Five  priests 
secured  his  head  and  his  limbs:  while  the  sixth,  clad  in  a  scarlet  mantle,  emblamatic  of 
his  bloody  office,  dexterously  opened  tne  breast  of  the  wretched  victim  with  a  sharp 
razor  of  itztli,— a  volcanic  substance  hard  as  flint,— and.  inserting  his  hand  in  the  wound, 
tore  out  the  palpitating  heart.  The  minister  of  death,  first  holding  this  up  towards  the 
sun.  an  object  of  worship  throughout  Anahuac,  cast  it  at  the  feet  of  the  deity  to  whom 
the  temple  was  devoted,  while  the  multitudes  below  prostrated  themselves  in  humble 
adoration."— PIIESCOTT'S  MEXICO. 


WARM    SPRINGS.  15 

"  To  worthier  deeds  than  those  agone, 

"  To  lead  you  from  an  evil  way 

"  That  made  a  night  of  every  day, 

"  And  as  of  all  a  fitting  crown 

"  To  tear  this  baleful  Castle  down. 

"  Have  you  no  faitli  ?     Is't  vain  to  deem 

"  The  Father  who  is  all  supreme, 

"  Has  blest  the  labor  you  have  wrought 

u  Tho'  it  as  yet  has  come  to  naught? 

"  O,  fainting  hearts,  that  thus  would  yield 

"  When  sheltered  by  your  Father's  shield  ! 

"  If  still  you  wish  your  victim's  life, 

"  He  stands  prepared  to  feel  the  knife ; 

"  But  first,  I  ask  you  all  to  kneel, 

u  And  make  with  me  a  last  appeal." 

All  discord  ceased  ;  not  e'en  a  word 

In  whispered  murmur  now  was  heard; 

The  men  encircled  him  around, 

And  prostrate  bowed  them  to  the  ground, 

While  thus  upon  the  quiet  air 

The  chief  outpoured  his  soul  in  prayer: 

"  Father  of  Light ! — Thou  all  Supreme, 

"  Before  whose  Majesty  we  seem 

"  As  motes  that  speck  the  Sun-God's  beam  ; 

"  Thou  great  Omnipotent,  whose  reign 

u  Is  o'er  creation's  vast  domain  ; 

"  Who  mov'st  the  world  as  with  a  breath, 

"  Who  givest  life,  and  sendest  death ; 

"  Thou  Purity  without  a  stain, 

"  Thou  Perfect  Perfectness ;— O,  deign 


6  A    LEGEND    OF 

"  To  see  us  kneeling  not  in  vain  ! 

"  My  people  all  are  gathered  here 

"  With  hearts  oppressed  and  full  of  fear, 

u  But  censure  not  their  lack  of  faith, 

"  Nor  whelm  them  in  thy  mighty  wrath  ; 

"  Remember,  Father,  what  control 

"  Is  requisite  to  cleanse  the  soul 

"  That  has  been  fouled  by  deeds  of  years, 

"  And  never  knew  repentant  tears  ; 

"  And  think,  Thou  only  speckless  One, 

"  Of  what  their  willing  hands  have  clone 

"  To  beat  to  earth  that  monster  thins; 

o 

*'  Which  still  outspreads  its  Condor  wing.(1) 

"  As  for  myself,  I  feel  as  sure 

u  As  that  Thy  goodness  will  endure, 

"  That  Thou  wilt  lend  Thy  needed  aid 

"  To  that  vain  effort  we  have  made. 

"  Thou  hast  not  fashioned  nature  strong 

"  To  cope  alone  with  giant  wrong, 

"  Wherefore,  Great  Father,  do  we  call — 

"  Myself,  my  people,  one  and  all !" 

He  scarce  had  ended,  when  a  sound 
Of  thunder  rolled  along  the  ground  ; 
The  earth  quaked  wildly  to  arid  fro 
As  if  in  last  convulsive  throe  ; 
The  mountains  swayed  as  they  would  fall, 
And  sickness  seized  the  hearts  .of  all ; 
The  Castle  rocked,  then  toppl«£?>'er, 
It  crashed  to  earth  and  was  no  more. 

(1)  "Flapping  from  9ut  their  Condor  wings 

"Invisible  Woe."  — POE. 


WARM    SPRINGS.  17 

The  opening  ground  the  ruins  drank, 
As  down  and  down  they  deeper  sank, 
Till  naught  was  left,  not  even  a  tile, 
Of  all  that  man-defying  pile. 

And  on  the  once  accursed  spot 

Springs  bubbled  up  with  waters  hot, 

And  flowed  adown  the  barren  hills 

In  myriad  vapor-wreathed  rills. 

The  people  being  seized  with  awe 

And  wild  amaze  at  what  they  saw, 

The  chief,  in  soothing  accent,  said, 

"  Fill  not  your  wondering  souls  with  dread  ; 

"  These  waters  have  been  sent  from  Heaven, 

"  Bathe  in  the  tide  and  be  forgiven." 

Then  did  they,  shouting,  quickly  lave 
Their  bodies  in  the  healing  wave, 
And  kneeled  before  the  saintly  one 
By  whom  such  marvels  had  been  done. 
But,  as  they  knelt,  a  halo  spread 
In  brightest  glory  'round  his" head, 
And  swift  as  rushing  of  the  storm 
A  mighty  cloud  enclosed  his  form. 
And  bore  him  upward  to  the  skies 
Before  their  wonder-gazing  eyes. 

Soon  flowers  sprang  from  out  the  ground 
And  shed  delicious  fragrance  round  ; 
The  trees  took  on  a  fresher  green, 
And  'midst  their  waving  boughs  were  seen 
Great  multitudes  of  beauteous  birds, 


18  A  LEGEND   OF  WARM   SPRINGS. 

That  blessed  the  ear  with  tuneful  words. 
No  wrathful  voice  disturbed  the  air, 

But  all  was  peace  from  morn  till  even, 
And  people  flocked  in  numbers  there, 

To  breathe  the  joy  of  such  a  Heaven. 
The  halt  and  lame  and  crippled  came, 
To  bathe  their  torture-ridden  frame, 
And  wondered  and  rejoiced  as  they 
Felt  their  diseases  washed  away, 
And  knew  that  glorious  Health  again 
Coursed  swift  along  their  every  vein. 

And  when  in  after  years  the  priests 

Came  with  the  Cross  to  spread  their  feasts 

Upon  our  California  shore, 

And  teach  men  Jesus  to  adore, 

They  blessed  these  Springs,  and  said  that  they 

Should  live,  and  never  feel  decay, 

Till  Earth  itself  should  pass  away. 


A 

2. 


